Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by HDS1963

Update: It's maybe an hour or so since I applied Aventus and it has almost completely disappeared. With my nose two inches away from my skin I can barely smell it - and this after a fairly hefty application. I don't get the appeal, I really don't.

I did the exact same thing THREE trips to Neiman's. I could barely smell it half an hour later. I don't know if my nose was playing tricks on me but on the fourth trip it lasted half the day. Then the FIFTH time I could smell it on the back of my hand well into the next day. Bought the flacon from Creedboutique and now when I wear it, I do get a good full day out of it. I'm REALLY hoping Spice and Wood is the same since it cost me nearly a couple hundred more than Aventus. I guess we'll find out in November ...

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Well I finally got a chance to sample this Spice and Woods and let just say this takes "Royalty need not shout" to a WHOLE new level!

This is another Creed release that I must say I am very very disappointed in. What is going on here. Literally within one hour I cannot smell it anymore. It follows the exact same composition as Aventus with a fruit note (this time apple instead of Pineapple) than this leads into some very faint woods. I dont get SPICES, I get lower case spices.

I cant imagine why anyone would need an 8.4oz of this. There is no sillage, no longevity and frankly no originality at all. This is from a house that started me on this hobby of collecting scents. i must say I am very disappointed! Honestly, I was expecting something like Penhalligons Sartorial release which I feel is a great scent and the complete opposite of what Penhalligons usually does.

Very Very disappointing. I cant imagine how thin and unoriginal the next release will be named Eau de Cologne. Thank god for Windsor!

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by cairomerta

Well I finally got a chance to sample this Spice and Woods and let just say this takes "Royalty need not shout" to a WHOLE new level!

This is another Creed release that I must say I am very very disappointed in. What is going on here. Literally within one hour I cannot smell it anymore. It follows the exact same composition as Aventus with a fruit note (this time apple instead of Pineapple) than this leads into some very faint woods. I dont get SPICES, I get lower case spices.

I cant imagine why anyone would need an 8.4oz of this. There is no sillage, no longevity and frankly no originality at all. This is from a house that started me on this hobby of collecting scents. i must say I am very disappointed! Honestly, I was expecting something like Penhalligons Sartorial release which I feel is a great scent and the complete opposite of what Penhalligons usually does.

Very Very disappointing. I cant imagine how thin and unoriginal the next release will be named Eau de Cologne. Thank god for Windsor!

There does seem to be a distinctive style....I think they have a new perfumer working "with" Olivier. I could have a guess....

"Don’t try to be original. Be simple. Be good technically, and if there is something in you, it will come out. ” - Henri Matisse.
"Wear R de Capucci" - Hirch Duckfinderreviews

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by fugazi

that's cool. i think the heart of our difference here is the unisex-nature of this fragrance. thats why you see it as "cold, aloof, etc". i can see your point, but that is a trait i love. i think it's an impressive feat to create something so mysteriously unisex. on the other hand, it's easy and cheap to create an uber-masculine, overly musky powerhouse.

its modernity might factor in too. correct me if i'm wrong, but i think you are a fan of CREED's old-school scents, and see their modern-take with Aventus and Spice & Wood as a disturbing departure.

i see it as a very welcome addition.

Spice and Wood's claimed unisex status(i don't find it unisex at all), and it's modernity are not my issues with it. I frankly don't find it overly modern in any sense. I find it something like an incomplete niche woody scent, alot like the CDG wood scents or woody incense scents, or like something diptyque or Tauer would release, but unfinished and in lower concentration.

As for creed's modernity, I appreciate CREED's older scents, especially Royal Scottish Lavender (and I HATEHATEHATE Lavender), and the clean muskiness of Orange Spice's base (not the poo up top), as well as having an appreciation for the "old man" Creeds I would never wear, but recognize their supreme quality: Private Tabarome, BdP, BdG, and the "old woman" creeds i also wouldn't wear but recognize their incredible quality: Feuille Verte, Fleur De The Rose Bulgarie, Angelique Encens

So it's not modernity or unisexness I dislike of CREED's newest two, it's mainly the lack of opaqueness, and the lack of longevity by Aventus and Spice and Wood, as well as the rubbery quality of the floral notes used. They definitely both use a similar framework and share portions of each others' pallettes, but neither seems smooth or rich enough for my nose. Aventus came slightly closer to smooth with the clean musks/vanilla/ambergris/moss notes used in the base, but the concentration of the fresher/smoother notes in the heart and base should be increased imo. And Spice and wood would have certainly benefitted from a large dose of those notes as well, in addition to other spices more prominent than pepper. It's just too dry, simple, and weak to warrant such a crazy price.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by cairomerta

Well I finally got a chance to sample this Spice and Woods and let just say this takes "Royalty need not shout" to a WHOLE new level!
What is going on here. Literally within one hour I cannot smell it anymore. It follows the exact same composition as Aventus with a fruit note (this time apple instead of Pineapple) than this leads into some very faint woods. I dont get SPICES, I get lower case spices. There is no sillage, no longevity and frankly no originality at all. Very Very disappointing. I cant imagine how thin and unoriginal the next release will be named Eau de Cologne.

First, yup, this is exactly what I thaught of it.

And as for the bolded "Original Cologne" prediction, This possibility has me praying it's not a royal exclusive (both duds imo), and that my prediction of it being a 3rd gradient bottle millesime, based around a long-lasting synthetic heart accord, just like the other two "Original Vetiver" and "Original Santal".

They better get their ship in order quick with several great releases, as i was expecting Spice and Wood to make stronger and better use of the winning elelemnts in Aventus, but it instead removed them, kept the rubbery/smokey notes, and added cedar and black pepper....there is much potential in the Aventus base, but they better richen/thicken/freshen it up and not get obsessed with rubber and smoke. I'm worried for their future.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by DULLAH

First, yup, this is exactly what I thaught of it.

And as for the bolded "Original Cologne" prediction, This possibility has me praying it's not a royal exclusive (both duds imo), and that my prediction of it being a 3rd gradient bottle millesime, based around a long-lasting synthetic heart accord, just like the other two "Original Vetiver" and "Original Santal".

They better get their ship in order quick with several great releases, as i was expecting Spice and Wood to make stronger and better use of the winning elelemnts in Aventus, but it instead removed them, kept the rubbery/smokey notes, and added cedar and black pepper....there is much potential in the Aventus base, but they better richen/thicken/freshen it up and not get obsessed with rubber and smoke. I'm worried for their future.

Original vetiver to me is not synthetic, santal is definitely too synthetic to me I do not like it. The original cologne will be a royal exclusive.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by DULLAH

I'm worried for their future.

hahaha... i was waiting for it!

somehow i think Creed will be just fine. In contrast, I think they are in the midst of a remarkable streak of creativity and artistic inspiration, after a good decade of wallowing. I discovered Creed in 1997, and from about 1999 through last year, I kind of drifted from them after the rather pedestrian efforts of Tabarome Millesime, OV, OS, and Himalaya.

However, Sublime Vanille, Windsor, Aventus, and Spice & Wood have me EXTREMELY excited about the future of this house. As you stated before, Spice and Wood is not a poorly made fragrance. It just highlights notes that you don't particularly like. But you can't deny extraordinary quality, delicacy, and balance of all four fragrances I just mentioned.

for instance - I was never a huge fan of vanilla. But I got Sublime Vanille, and it is such a quality fragrance, it has MADE me a fan of vanilla! I am struck at the quality of that scent every single time I put it on, much like Windsor, maybe moreso.

So hang in there, maybe they'll hit a note you like soon. But it's rather self-centric to predict the demise of a house because they have made a few that you aren't personally a fan of. I would "be worried" if their quality of ingredients and craftsmanship declined, which it clearly has not. It has gone up significantly.

BTW - what do you mean by "opaque" in terms of fragrance? i know what it means in reality, but can't figure how you are applying a visual term to the smell-realm. Do you think something like TF's Tuscan Leather is "opaque"? Is that what you prefer?

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Ok, I finally get the clove after dumping 3/4 of the sample on fabric, it's just a hint of Eugenol, drowned out by pepper and a dryish cardamom/bitter spice. Still, lowercase spice, as Cairomerta says. Opus 1870 kills this as a pepper scent.

I'm also getting more of the apple on fabric, still not much, and yes there is a stage after it dries down some where this smells like Burberry London, but more like the aftershave. I just don't understand where they see this being worth $550. The name, the bottle, the note list, all so very intriguing, the scent....not so much.

There is one thing that is intruiging me, it's the evergreen-type note in here. I can't place if it's cedar needles or what. It's almost like a cross of Cypress essential oil with the fresher green wet scent of freshly torn pine needles. A very nice subtle touch, but then again, "subtle" is the adjective that plagues this fragrance imo.

And I'm still left with the impression of a CDG woody, or like if amouage made an aftershave for something like Epic. It has that "snobby niche woody" steez all over it, but it's just so weak in concentration. Perhaps putting this in 8.4oz sprays is necessary.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by DULLAH

Ok, I finally get the clove after dumping 3/4 of the sample on fabric, it's just a hint of Iso-Eugenol, drowned out by pepper and a dryish cardamom/bitter spice. Still, lowercase spice, as Cairomerta says. Opus 1870 kills this as a pepper scent.

I'm also getting more of the apple on fabric, still not much, and yes there is a stage after it dries down some where this smells like Burberry London...

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by MikeNY

Am I still the only one who perceives a similarity with L'Anarchiste?

I find the apple in Spice and Wood to be quiet, and more of a appleskin note, not so much appleflesh. Also, the clove (also quiet) note used in Spice and Wood is almost entirely the "aged/fine/stale" clove. Now, I feel dry clove is great, in fresh/wet scents needing spiciness, as it adds dryness/class, but in an already bone dry scent like Spice and Wood, it offers little contrast/exitement.

That is why I find L'Anarchiste's Apple/Spices so drastically different. L'Anarchiste's Apple note is powerful and diffusive, very texturally wet, smelling almost entirely of Appleflesh (mashed into pulp/applesauce), no peel in site. Also, the clove note in L'Anarchiste, is definitely heavy on the typical fresh-ground clove smell we all associate. It's just a much more lively Apple/Spice than Spice and Wood's, which If I were to compare it to another apple-spice combo, I'd say after the pepper note burns off, it reminds of Burberry London, just much more subtle.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

picked this up last week after visiting the boutique here in nyc a few weeks ago. couldn't get it out of my head. absolutely gorgeous fragrance. just smells of elegance and refinement. wished is had a bit more silage, but overall i'm thrilled with this scent. right up there with GIT in terms of timelessness.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Did this get reformulated after its initial release? I remember really liking it the first time I tried it. The last time I tried it (from the big new bottles) I enjoyed it for about 30 minutes and then the whole thing turned all birch tar on me. Everyone else I asked all said it was strong and not pleasant. Skin chemistry I'm sure is what most people would chalk it up to, but it's definitely not my favorite at this point, that's for sure.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by mrclmind

Did this get reformulated after its initial release? I remember really liking it the first time I tried it. The last time I tried it (from the big new bottles) I enjoyed it for about 30 minutes and then the whole thing turned all birch tar on me. Everyone else I asked all said it was strong and not pleasant. Skin chemistry I'm sure is what most people would chalk it up to, but it's definitely not my favorite at this point, that's for sure.

there's something very dry and harsh in Spice and Wood that one either really loves or really hates, it seems.

I adore Spice and Wood. it is so well structured. the apple sits on top of a plank of dry wood, with spices weaving in and out.

but if you look at the note pyramid, it contains so many dry and austere components:

when I wear this, my wife is often overwhelmed and does not like it. Royal Oud takes a similar idea but adds such a wonderful sweet heart to it, that it's definitely more wearable and likeable than S&W.

when I wear this, my wife is often overwhelmed and does not like it. Royal Oud takes a similar idea but adds such a wonderful sweet heart to it, that it's definitely more wearable and likeable than S&W.

Good analysis...but I like Spice and Wood and am happy to have it. It is actually quite versatile--I can hardly think of a situation where it would not be okay, including at the office. I might prefer it to Royal Oud for that reason.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

I just received a sample of this in a trade, my first impressions were that it was nice, but not $550 dollars nice. The issue though? My impossibly difficult to impress girlfriend went gaga for it. Even going as far as to say "that's the best one yet", "that just works with your skin chemistry". Any cheaper/better alternatives?

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

The reviews on this thread are great, it has me wanting to try it. The notes are appealing except for the iris but i hear it's not too prominent. I want to hear marc's take on it in his niche haul video, there's really mixed opinions on this guy.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

I want to hear marc's take on it in his niche haul video, there's really mixed opinions on this guy.

Marc is an interesting fellow. I enjoy watching his niche fragrance videos. I think he has like $60,000+ worth of fragrances. Insane. I wonder what he does for a living.

He hasn't been posting much videos this year, at least not as much as he used to. He posts videos, then leaves for 2-3 months, then comes back and posts again, so it's kind of hard to stay hooked. I think I heard him say he's going to be leaving again in June.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by CaliDude

Marc is an interesting fellow. I enjoy watching his niche fragrance videos. I think he has like $60,000+ worth of fragrances. Insane. I wonder what he does for a living.

He hasn't been posting much videos this year, at least not as much as he used to. He posts videos, then leaves for 2-3 months, then comes back and posts again, so it's kind of hard to stay hooked. I think I heard him say he's going to be leaving again in June.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Good point, I never thought of that. My wife thinks he probably runs a fragrance shop and just takes the frags from his inventory to review.

It's just amazing how many frags this guy has. Like even if money was no object for me, I doubt I'd have as much frags as he does. I would only buy bottles of frags that I enjoy, not any frag that I set my eyes on. In fact, the more frags that I buy, the pickier I get.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

I purchased a sample of this because Io see it is highly regarded. Wow what a let down.

It's nice, but it's nothing extraordinary. In fact.. i got a sample of that and I also got a bottle of Tommy Tropics today in the mail, both blind buys. i wasn't expecting much from the Tommy, but it's far more interesting than Spice & Wood. Tommy Tropics, I digress though. Another topic for another thread.

Spice & Wood. Opens up like a bay rum aftershave, a little more tame, I get some apple, but not much. Dries into more of a Dior homme smell. i haven't really looked at the notes, but I'm assuming it has to contain iris or cedar wood. Definitely a more mature frag. But like most of the Creed's I find nothing real special about it. I am sure if I look through everything I've tried, I could find something for under $20 a bottle that smells 90% similar to this.

Re: Creed Spice & Wood

Originally Posted by The_Cologneist

I purchased a sample of this because Io see it is highly regarded. Wow what a let down.

It's nice, but it's nothing extraordinary. In fact.. i got a sample of that and I also got a bottle of Tommy Tropics today in the mail, both blind buys. i wasn't expecting much from the Tommy, but it's far more interesting than Spice & Wood. Tommy Tropics, I digress though. Another topic for another thread.

Spice & Wood. Opens up like a bay rum aftershave, a little more tame, I get some apple, but not much. Dries into more of a Dior homme smell. i haven't really looked at the notes, but I'm assuming it has to contain iris or cedar wood. Definitely a more mature frag. But like most of the Creed's I find nothing real special about it. I am sure if I look through everything I've tried, I could find something for under $20 a bottle that smells 90% similar to this.

You might want to rewear this. The apple note is there throughout but changes from a sharp citrus apple to a more spicy apple in the dry down. The apple is there for the whole ride while the scenery changes from opening to close. S&W is a fragrance that I needed to sample more than once to appreciate and there are many stories of people who were initially unimpressed but upon more wearings fell in love. I had to return to the store 4 times and smell the card on the dry down then sample before I was addicted. It eventually became my favorite.

Also, maybe your nose is having a bad day. The opening is the opposite of Bay Rum where it's a sharp citrus apple with woods. The drydown smells nothing like Dior Homme. The drydown transitions from a citrus opening to a spicy campfire birch and very slightly sweet apple. I have had some days where my nose leads me wrong on a fragrance and later I smell again and can smell it correctly. That must be what's happened here.